Wednesday, May 20, 2009

R. David Horwitz explores Ramban's introduction to Sefer Bamidbar suggests that we emulate the generation of the desert in its observance of the temporary mitzvos of the desert during our sojourn on earth: link

R. Yitzchak Etshalom explains why Sefer Bamidbar is the source of our relationship with HaShem through the interactions of Knesses Yisrael: link

R. Berel Wein suggests that Sefer Bamidbar begins with the counting of the tribes in order to prepare us for the focus throughout the Sefer on the analysis of people and their characteristics that make up the bulk of the Sefer: link

The Nesivos Shalom, as elucidated by R. Yitzchak Adlerstein, and R. Yaakov Haber explain the differences between the census in this week's Parsha and Parshas Pinchas as indicative of the transistion from the generation that left Egypt to the generation that was poised to enter Eretz Yisrael and reflecting the importance of the transmission of Torah through the medium of the famiy in the absence of open miracles and the revealed Divine Presence in the immediate vicinity of a Jewish place of residence: link 1, link 2

The Counting of The Jewish People

R. Dovid Gottlieb investigates the halachic proprieties of the counting of the Jewish People: link (audio)

The Encampment of the Jewish People

R. Ephraim Buchwald exhorts us to learn from the encampment of the Jewish People that success in raising a Jewsh family requires both Yiras Shamayim and practical down to earth direction from the elders: link

R. Avraham Gordimer reminds us that good and bad neighbors can both have powerful impacts on our lives in active and passive manners: link

R. Jonathan Sacks explains the connection between the Parsha and the Haftorah and why it is read immediately before Shavuos: link

The Separation of the Leviim

R. Yissocher Frand, based on the Ramban, suggests why the Leviim were small in numbrs, despite their important role: link

Yom Yerushalayim

R. Aharon Lichtenstein suggests why we should always be seeking the welfare of Zion and Jerusalem and why we must always be careful to guard the special status of Jerusalem: link 1, link 2

R. Mosheh Lichtenstein discusses the centrality of Jerusalem in our lives from various halachic and hashkafic perspectives: link (audio)